A 67-year-old Halifax businessman has pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography involving a 17-year-old girl.

Michael Kevin Stanhope faced a total of 10 charges.

He was supposed to be in court on Monday for a preliminary inquiry, leading to a judge and jury trial at a later date. Instead, he elected to be tried in provincial court and entered a guilty plea to the one charge.

Stanhope was arrested in August 2012 after police searched his home in the rural community of Bayside and his business — Hairdressers' Market Inc. on Hollis Street in Halifax.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Stanhope's computer contained pornographic images of the girl — some of which he had taken, others she had apparently emailed to him.

The nine other charges against Stanhope included weapons offences. Police seized guns when they searched his home. He was also charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and uttering threats, along with additional child pornography charges.

Those charges will be dealt with when Stanhope is sentenced in January.

In the meantime, he's free on conditions that include staying away from his downtown Halifax business.